The black pole and the near surrounding area was put in place on the 9th of June 1964 A.D. on the site of the former chemistry lab. which had been exploded by a distant ancestor of Richard Young Esq. in the Autumn of the previous year. It is rumoured that it lies on the site of a Romano-Britain brothel. We found an ancient patterned mosaic flooring there, which depicted scenes of a lewd nature.
The official opening of the pole was on the 24th June 1964 A.D. At this time it was painted a delightful sky blue. Unfortunately this festival was marred by a flower-power student demonstration which contained people throwing paint bombs, one of which, to the great dismay of the assembled company, landed near and splashed the pole with a paint of a turquoise hue. Even today, traces of that turquoise can be seen.
On the 17th October 1972 A.D. the noble pole was painted a burgandy-red in honour of its services to mankind and was kept at this shade until 29th February 1980 A.D. when it was daubed black and known from that day on as "THE BLACK POLE" !!!!!!!
From the 3rd year (1991-2), TD and DE began searching for a place to seek spiritual fulfilment (i.e.have lunch). They came and sat at the front of the hall next to the dustbin, but this area was poached by Xyphias and 2short and therein commenced a great and glorious war, caused by the intolerable and entirely unprovoked harassment with apple juice 2short subjected these victimised individuals to.
This war was gloriously won when, one rainy day, by divine inspiration, TD and DE made the inspired tactical decision to declare victory, and then retired to the omnipotent black pole. Not long afterwards, on the 15th January 1992 A.D. the first experimentations in the sophisticated art and science of pole-sliding began. Soon pole-sliding developed into a cult and non-sadistic sport, with its own system of awards.
Before long, many other individuals attended the gatherings at the Pole, and eventually Gopsi was formed.
| ~/12/90 | Rolls known to have been in existence (were removed from desk) |
| ?/summer/91 | French Encounters (2 trips) |
| 7/1/93 | DE, SP, RY do "solar collectors" experiment in phys. The solar collector cools their water down for some reason. |
| 29/1/93 | SP finds rubber ball at black poles. |
| 3/2/93 | RY and AC kidnap Ernie. RY and SP draw on ernie. RY hacks at Ernie with a compass and snaps him in half. Trip to Simonshyde, RY throws half of Ernie out of minibus window on the way. |
| 4/2/93 | 2nd trip to Simonshyde. At break, a plan for Ernie's funeral is devised. Alistair will conduct it, Bridget will translate it into Jewish (sic), SP will translate it into Venusian. |
| 5/2/93 | Ernie's funeral, plan thrown out window. TD conducted it, DE reads lesson (Rev 13). Trial of SP - SP found guilty of accessory to murder and other minor charges, but let off. Trial of RY - RY found guilty of murder, sentenced to have his testicles removed by Bridget's teeth. 3rd visit to Simonshyde |
| 9/2/93 | Ainsley and Rhys's technology presentation. |
| 10/2/93 | Technology presentation. |
| 17/3/93 | Radio player at black poles |
| 3-5/5/93 | First Pogopsi youth-hostelling trip (Kemsing) |
| 9/6/93 | SP translates untim--otiun into morse code |
| 1/7/93 | Pruning of Graham |
| 19/7/93 | David suggests lake district trip in next year's summer holidays |
| 22/7/93 | SP and TD climb over tables in hall to door at the back. |
| 31/8/93 | Tax-disc date on Nurse's car |
| 1/9/93 | Pogopsi prom visitation - TD, DE, IJ |
| 3/9/93 | First Gopsi visit to Wick at lynch |
| 1/11/93 | SP and DE hide coat in cupboard in Chem. |
| 3/11/93 | Re-writing of agreement |
| 10/11/93 | Ian spills yoghurt over first year at poles |
| 12/11/93 | First and only attempt to plant plant in Gopsi garden failed - plant uprooted |
| 2/12/93 | BTEC moderation. Lots of laughing. |
| 20/12/93 | Gopsi Christmas lunch at black poles with carol singing. Everyone feels sick after TD's fudge. |
| 7/1/94 | Gopsi snowball fight at the Wick at lunchtime - SP, DE, TD, SF, RH, AC |
| 13/1/94 | DE first to see tarmac over swings & bubbling pipe in lake (at Wick). |
| 17/1/94 | Cooper effect observed |
| 17/1/94 | DE and SP in PSE watch interviews video (with sad bloke going "Yes" at the end). The class is asked (by burke) if they want to see any of it again. The class said "Yes, all of it" so we watch the whole thing again. |
| 9/2/94 | Gopsi party (For IJ and BK) |
| 27/2/94 | The Dean's party (for his installation) in the nave |
| 17/3/94 | DE stamped on IJ's Yoghurt at lynch - all over Nurse's car - see 31/8/93 |
| 25/3/94 | 1st Swing trip to Clarence park |
| 30/3/94 | 27 swing trip at lynch (ZD, TD, DE, IJ) |
| 31/3/94 | Kidnapped Robert for birthday party at SP's house |
| 1-9/4/94 | The Latin Trip |
| 1 | 16 (single) trips on the monorail at Gatwick (the hub without the hub-bub). Arrived at hotel at 01:00. |
| 2 | Visited Vatican |
| 3 | TD/DE/IJ got up late and missed breakfast. Visited the forum, the Colosseum and Ostia. |
| 4 | Visited Catacombs of St. Callisto. Travelled to Sorrento. |
| 5 | Pompeii and Naples museum of archaeology |
| 6 | Herculaneum, and up Vesuvius |
| 7 | Visited Paestum |
| 8, 9 | Morning in Sorrento; back home at 02:20. |
| 18/4/94 | R.E. - "Sexism" poster by DE and SP |
| 21/4/94 | SP and DE to SP's unmentionable place |
| 27/4/94 | DE cycled to Hatfield at lynch along railway track |
| 28/4/94 | Gopsi log cabin built at lunch (behind hall) |
| 29/4/94 | DE forgets to hand in absolutely essential biol. assessment after doing it |
| 12/5/94 | Kevin M. Snoad's "Corrosion" moved at lynch to SP's house |
| 13/5/94 | "Corrosion" moved to wick in wheel-barrow |
| 19/5/94 | Car number plate posted in SP's house. SP posts it to DE. |
| 20/5/94 | Gopsi Photos at lynch |
| 29/6/94 | Gopsi picnic in Verulamium park. Romans sighted |
| 1/7/94 | 6th Form Conference trip to London. Visited the Post Office Museum (followed by the visit to the National Theatre, the MOMI or the Imperial War Museum) |
| 8-14/7/94 | Y.H. trip to Lake district. Turd competition begins |
| 8 | Eskdale Y.H. |
| 9 | To Buttermere Y.H., via Wasdale, Blacksail Pass and Scarth Gap |
| 10 | Up Robinson. Came down wrong way. Cold and wet. Stayed at Longthwaite (Borrowdale) Y.H. Met Roy, and Roy's Friend |
| 11 | High Close (Langdale) Y.H. The Gopsi newsletter named - SHAG (Silly handout about Gopsi). |
| 12 | Windermere Y.H. |
| 13 | DE/IJ up High Street Ridge (+ Troutbeck Tongue!). TD/ZD/SP along Windermere (got lost, I believe...). Windermere Y.H. again |
| 22/7/94 | Bernard Haitink prom and visit to the Bank Of England Museum |
| 12/8/94 | DE cycled to (Arnold) Barton-le-clay |
| 18/8/94 | Ian's tyre thrown over the hedge into railway cutting |
| 25/8/94 | G.C.S.E. Results day. Enough said |
| 14-19/9/94 | DE Records 120h turd |
| 19/9/94 | Speech on "The candela, unit of luminous intensity" - DE and SP |
| 21/9/94 | ZD sells SPs lawnmower to Emmie |
| 4/10/94 | Young Project Engineer Interviews |
| 6/10/94 | 14 Post boxes said "Hello" to by DE and SP, also most by IJ |
| ?/10/94 | Geology trip to Arran - only SP & DE, but not IJ, went swimming on 13/10/94 due to IJs geological absence |
| 3/11/94 | First YPE trip to Grazeby Medical in Watford |
| 6/11/94 | First Gopsi Fireworks party |
| 10/11/94 | New Gulshan, then to the Crown (DE> this was my first pint...) |
| 25/11/94 | First Gopsi International Lottery (It Could Be You) |
| 29/11/94 | Start of School |
| 1/12/94 | IJ/SP/DE went swimming at Bricketwood for a half hour swim with a whole coach and pool to ourselves (+ Mr Cooper!) |
| 31/12/94 | Gopsi New year's eve party at Ian's house |
| 5/1/95 | GCSE Certificate Presentation evening |
| 9/1/95 | Got a SHAG |
| 26/1/95 | YPE thing at Wheathampstead with the door and the near deaths |
| 18-22/2/95 | Pogopsi Y.H. trip to Edale, Peak District |
| 18 | to Edale (train via Luton/Sheffield). Losehill/Ward's Piece, Back Tor, Mam Tor & Lord's Seat on Rushup Edge. |
| 19 | Kinder Scout (up via Jacob's Ladder): Kinder Downfall, Kinder Low, lunch @ Edale Rocks. Lost near north edge... back in time (just) for evening meal. In trouble for buying wine in the youth hostel! |
| 20 | IJ/DE Pike Low & Win Hill, walked round Ladybower Reservoir |
| 21 | IJ/DE Brown Knoll, Mount Famine, South Hill/Head, back along Pennine Way |
| 22 | IJ/DE Mam Tor (again). Home. |
| 2/3/95 | DE ruined Chem experiment. YPE to Grazeby Medical in Watford. late for 10:37 train. Got 11:30 one instead. |
| 3/3/95 | Snow-ball fight in Wick. Ditch frozen over; but not the pond. |
| 10/3/95 | School bank. Got into Yapp's area... (username: GYZZ / password: password). |
| 17/3/95 | Entire Further Applied looking at Simon's fractals. |
| 21/3/95 | Warwick University visit (Chem / Phys depts) |
| 5/4/95 | YPE set up. |
| 6/4/95 | YPE presentation day. Gold CREST award! The infamous day of orange juice, wine, trying to hack into the computer, writing the presentation 10 minutes before giving it etc. etc. |
| 7/5/95 | Watched 'True Romance' @ Ian's. Then to Bernard's Heath |
| 10/5/95 | Leeds Uni visit |
| 12/5/95 | Cambridge Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics visit. Lost John in HMV. |
| 18/5/95 | Manchester Uni visit. Went on trams. TD/DE lost SP/IJ in HMV. |
| 19/5/95 | Conservation - putting up way-mark post. Pigeon 35 mins late for phys lesson. |
| 22/5/95 | IJ eats buttercup and nearly dies (they cause swelling of the intestinal tract). Latin exam paper 1. |
| 25/5/95 | Latin exam paper 2. |
| 15/6/95 | Imperial College Maths visit |
| 28/6/95 | 6th form leavers party (year above) @ Rugby Club. |
| 29/6/95 | School concert (Minuet & Trio; Dvorak - Slavonic Dances; Lloyd-Webber compilation; Procession of the Sardar; Pomp & Circumstance) |
| 30/6/95 | SP/DE to Symondshyde. Then conservation. |
| 5/7/95 | TD passes driving test. |
| 12/7/95 | TD/DE to Minsden Chapel in Timothy's car. |
| 13/7/95 | John Hegley reading poems in school library. |
| 14/7/95 | DE ruined chem assessment (don't remember how this one was ruined...) |
| 21/7/95 | TD crashes car. Writes off it and another. |
| 22/7/95 | DE crashes bike |
| 19/9/95 | DE kidnapped, taken to Smallford... |
| 20/9/95 | Simon locks Pali in the cupboard in Further Pure |
| 28/9/95 | First conservation nr Building Research Station in Bricket Wood |
| 30/9/95 | Joy & Wayne's 18th in Harpenden. DE & SP very drunk. |
| 31/10/95 | SP and DE go to Minsden Chapel. There at midnight, but see no ghosts. |
| 4/11/95 | Fireworks party @ Stephen's. Bangers in dustbin. |
| 25/11/95 | Party @ Zack's |
| 6/12/95 | James Brown & David Smith stole a Christmas tree for the common room |
| 31/12/95 | New Year @ Ian's |
| 17/1/96 | that stupid woman came in on events day and spouted vast quantities of shite about world peace |
| 20/1/96 | SP, IJ, ac to hogshead |
| 29/1/96 | tasting SP's homebrew at lunch |
| 30/1/96 | Pigeon said 'It's 81 degrees!'. What about? |
| 6/2/96 | School inspectors tell Cooper to give more homework |
| 13/2/96 | SP & DE to manchester |
| 14-18/2/96 | DE staying with IJ and family in Braithwaite. Walked up many of the fells in the north and north-western lake district. |
| 3/3/96 | Andrew's bday. To Cock. |
| 4/4/96 | To Robert's to celebrate his birthday |
| 22/4/96 | Events day, off school - did Gopsi tape at Stephen's |
| 24/5/96 | Last proper school day ever |
| 13/6/96 | Physics A-Level practical exam - this was the one for which David woke up 5 minutes beforehand and arrived late! |
| 27/6/96 | 6th form Leavers Party @ London Colney Football Club. |
| 28/6/96 | Gopsi meal @ Jade Garden, then Cock. |
| 15/8/96 | A-levels result day |
| 16/8/96 | Stephen's bday. Went to Cock & then Zack's house |
| 26/8/96 | David's bday. Hare & Hounds, Goat, Garibaldi. |
| 30/8/96 | Zack & Richard played at Alma Rd Youth Club - 'The Pipeliners' |
| 4/9/96 | Physics Reunion at Cross Keys |
| 6/9/96 | Gopsi prom. First to National Portrait Gallery, then Greenwich, then Science Museum. Then Debussy, Prokofiev, & Stravinsky (The Fire Bird). |
| 9-10/9/96 | Great Gopsi walk back from the pub - bus to Whitwell, walked to Red Lion @ Preston, then to Royal Oak @ Chapelfoot. Walked back via Minsden Chapel, Ayot St Lawrence, etc. etc. |
| 11/9/96 | Maths Reunion at Blacksmith's Arms. Played Pictionary! |
| 22/12/96 | Goat |
| 31/12/96-1/1/97 | party @ Zack's house. Timothy sick. Porridge in a wok at 5.30 am. Home at about 7.00 am. |
| 8/4/97 | printed most of Gopsi Encyclopedia |
| 9/4/97 | completed encyclopedia! |
| 12/4/97 | Gopsi Encylopedia launch party. Then to Goat! |
| 13-16/7/97 | SP Visits Cambridge. Timothy falls off punt. |
| 24/7/97 | hand bell ringing at Stephen's |
| 10/9/97 | 2 proms. Simon Rattle's autograph. |
| 5-7/12/97 | Ian, David to Stephen's at Pontypridd. Had curry. Went to pub. Christmas party at Cardiff. Took lots of carrots. Lost in Cardiff. Saw bell-ringing |
| 31/12/97 | New Year at Zack's in London. |
| 1/1/98 | To John's house for breakfast! |
| 7/4/98 | John DJ'd at Horn of Plenty [I think that was before the name changed] |
| 18/4/98 | SP and ZD take an impromptu trip to Leicester. |
| 31/12/98 | Meal / party @ Ian's |
| 6/2/99 | Ian's 21st. London. Attempted to see Marx's grave. Failed. |
| 24/4/00 | Pub crawl round all the pubs in Redbourn. |
| 17/2/01 | Zack does gig (as one of Emay) at Acoustic Cafe, Soho |
| 31/1/02 | Encyclopedia official online launch |
| 28/8/02 | Timothy and Lijun get married |
| 18/4/03 | Pogopsi geocaching trip - ZD, DE & SP find 5 |
| 19/4/03 | Pub crawl round all the pubs in Elstree. |
| 16/8/03 | SP's birthday. Drinking in London. SP & DE end up sleeping on the grass outside Euston until the first Thameslink the next morning (while Zack went home). |
| 14/10/03 | Gopsi Tape recordings released |
| 29/12/03 | Second pogopsi geocaching trip - DE & SP find 3 |
| 12/4/04 | Corrosion, the first pogopsi geocache set up in the wick (DE & SP). Cache page from geocaching.com. |
| 15/4/04 | Gaz, from geocaching.com user "GAZ, NES and LAYLA" becomes the first to find the Corrosion cache. |
| 28/5/04 | Meal at Michelangelos. |
| 30/5/04 | TD, DE & IJ visit British Museum + third pogopsi geocaching trip - DE & TD find 2. |
| 31/5/04 | Fourth pogopsi geocaching trip - DE, SP & IJ find 1. Also DE & SP visit the Corrosion cache for maintainence, and visit Minsden Chapel in the afternoon. |
| 2/7/04 | Andrew and Amel get married in Glasgow |
| 23/7/04 | Andrew and Amel get married again, this time in St Albans |
| 31/10/04 | Second Halloween visit to Minsden Chapel by SP and DE |
| 25/07/05 | Geocaching trip - found Lambeth parks cache |
| 14-18/08/05 | Lake District trip + found 3 geocaches |
| 20/08/05 | Zack and Amanda's engagement party. Arrr! |
| 24/12/05 | Christmas Eve visit to the Farrier's Arms |
| 27/12/05 | Meal at the New Gulshan, followed by a visit to The Crown |
| 21/04/06 | Eamon Bashir Clark is born. |
| 13-14/05/06 | Zack's stag weekend. |
| 21/05/06 | Zack and Amanda get married. |